What’s happenin’ in the HOUSE:

• TONIGHT: We award for your BEADS – Make sure you send me your numbers – see my email at the end of this newsletter.
• Check out the LOGO submissions! They will be on a print out on your table tonight. Voting will happen at our POTLUCK!
• Series 2 will begin on Wed Jan 4th- B & D Divisions playing at 6:40pm (YES! You read that correctly – D Division!); A & C Divisions playing at 9pm
• POTLUCK: Let’s make it for Wednesday January 18th – we will determine the details in the new year.
• Thank you to everyone who participated in the “Wear a Hat day!” Last week…. Here are a couple of pics!

Laugh of the Week:

What's the difference between the Christmas alphabet and the ordinary alphabet?

The Christmas alphabet has Noel.

Get to Know our WNL Teams:

TEAM VAN YMEREN

Who are the members of your team and how long have you been curling?

Skip: Nell Van Ymeren

• After graduating from University, I moved to Oakville 45 years ago and wanted some winter activities, so I started skiing and curling. I grew up on an apple farm and my family was into curling at the Aylmer curling club. My dad sponsored the apple bonspiel there and I realized the fun of curling.
• I joined the WNL and Mixed Curling where I have enjoyed a number of great years.
• My team has a few new faces and some girls have been with me for a number of years.
• Sharon has been on my team the longest for 20 years now.
• Julianna is in her 3rd year.
• Rachelle and Evelyn have joined us this year and made it the most fun team ever.

Vice: Rachelle Bell/ Evelyn Gowan

• Rachelle - I’m the newbie on our team of five and play vice or 2nd depending on who is playing that week. Nell approached me to curl Wednesday night ladies which I was really happy about as up until then I had only curled on mixed leagues. It’s great to get the extra curling and social time being on two leagues. First time on WNL in Oakville, woo hoo!
• I grew up in Sask where winters are long and very cold. Everyone either played hockey, figure skated or curled in the winter. Girls weren’t allowed to play hockey then (boo!) so I did the latter two sports. My favourite memory is my hometown club, walking into a packed curling club with the ladies flipping burgers, bacon and fried onions on the grill with the howling cold prairie night outside. The smell in that clubhouse was to die for and the games were intense.
• Alternate Vice: Evelyn Gowan – I’ve been curling 37 years – 33 @ Oakville. I started playing at Humber Highlands in a corporate league. I learned to curl by listening to TSN Curling with Ray Turnbull and Linda Moore. I spent the 90’s and early 00’s playing almost every night (ladies could spare in men’s league back then), practicing after work and playing competitively and in a lot of bonspiels – and working full time. I also sat on the WNL Board for a few years and sat on the Club Board as well. This is my 8th year as the WNL Convenor. I just joined this great team this year as their 5th.

Second: Sharon Hay-Pole

• I started curling in a mixed social league through work at Humber Highland in 1980. Curling seemed like a good winter sport that wasn't weather dependent like skiing. I joined the Oakville Ladies league (then called Business Girls!) in 1984. In 1988 I took a 13-year hiatus from curling and returned to Oakville in 2001. At that time I joined the Day Ladies league and a year or two later I joined the Ladies Monday Ladder league. I was asked to spare on a Wednesday night team for a couple of weeks and then was asked if I wanted to join the team as the woman I was sparing for was moving to Vancouver. Nell and I have been together ever since.

Lead: Julianna Matthews

• How you started curling together?
• Nell mentioned to me over drinks after a golf game that she was looking for someone to share the vice position on her team – for the 7 pm games (dah – who is going to say no to that), and I said I was looking for a team this year, so here we are.

Tell us a story about your team…..

Evelyn – we are just in the process of making them and discovering food together.

Rachelle - Our best game so far was a couple of weeks ago against the Lois MacLauchlan team. It was close, exciting in a “down to the last shot” kinda way and they were very fun to socialize with post game. In our minds though, there is no bad or worse game. It’s great to be back on the ice!

We have a lot of fun as a team and I am really enjoying our time together. Julianna and I work on our secret handshakes, high fives when we’re not busy sweeping or throwing.

I like that we have 5 players. It takes the pressure off finding spares on the nights you’re unable to make it.

Being that we are a newly minted team, we look forward to discovering our favourite foods and establishments, making happy memories along the way :)

Our last 2 games have been our best with us winning the games with last difficult shots through a small port for a takeout.

I’m looking forward to the rest of our games together for more fun and good curling!!

I am sure Nell and I have had some pretty good games over the years, but the last 2 weeks have memorable with the game being one on exciting last shots! The worst game, they are just forgotten as soon as you leave the ice - we don't need to remember them!

Being our first year together we have yet to discover our favourite foods or restaurants. Hopefully, we will have a few years to figure that out.

Stuff that will help us Curl better:

Brushing
By: Helen Garside

Effective brushing is:

• A combination of brush pressure and speed.
• Head over the brush head and back is as flat as your body will allow.
• Weight is on the balls of your feet.
• Needs to be with in 3 feet of the rock.
• Brush angle at 45 degrees.
• Brushing motion is the maximum pressure downward & maximum speed applied to both push and pull strokes.
• Brushing in front of the path of the stone, when the curling rock starts to curl you have to keep brushing in front of the stone.

Effective Brushers:

• Can take a rock an extra 5 to 8 feet (depending on ice conditions).
• The person closest to the rock is 80% effective, the second sweeper is 20% and a third sweeper is 0%.
• Communicate weight of the rock speed at least three times as they move down the sheet. Once at the release point of the thrown rock, halfway the as they approach the far hog line.
• Brushers stand close to the thrower, i.e. the back line and anywhere up to the t-line. This helps the brushers determine how fast or slow the thrower is coming out of the hack.

Recipes Around The Rings:

SOFT AND CHEWY GINGER COOKIES

Author: Sam | Ahead of Thyme
Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Yield: 24-28 cookies

Soft chewy ginger cookies packed with ginger, molasses, and cinnamon spice is the most warm and cozy cookie ever. These holiday cookies stay soft for days.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

SUGAR COATING:

• 1/4 cup coarse sugar or granulated sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars using a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
3. Add the egg and beat until incorporated. Then add molasses and vanilla and beat on low until combined.
4. Gradually add in the dry ingredients and beat until just combined.
5. Cover the bowl with plastic cling wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours, up to overnight.
6. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a half sheet baking pan with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
7. Transfer coarse sugar into a small bowl. Then, use a cookie scoop to scoop out 1-2 tablespoons of cookie dough at a time, and roll into 1-inch ball. Roll the cookie ball into the bowl of sugar to fully coat it. Place on the lined baking tray, spaced 2-3 inches apart. You will have to bake in multiple batches or freeze some uncoated cookie balls to bake later.
8. Bake for 8-10 minutes until the edges are set. Remove from oven and allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet. Then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool down completely. If the cookies have a dome to them and are not very crinkled (this can happen if your cookie dough has been chilled for too long), just before transferring to a wire cooling rack, gently press down on them using the back of a spatula so flatten them out a bit and create the crinkle effect. Then, transfer to the cooling rack to cool down completely.

WNL Logo:

This is it – We will vote at our Pot Luck in January!

Look for the print outs on your tables tonight – for a full preview of all the submissions.

Thank you to all that have shared your Logo ideas – We cannot wait to have one for our League!

Special Pin Competition:

Tonight’s beads will be included in your count for the next session – So start new ribbons!

Skips – Make sure you have sent in your individual team members bead numbers to me (see my email below).

First session prizes to be awarded TONIGHT!

Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! And Happy New Year!

See you in 2023!!

Got something you want in the newsletter? Maybe a tip for us? please send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for our next edition of WNL2. I need stuff! 😊

What’s happenin’ in the HOUSE:

• TONIGHT – It’s “Wear a Hat” Night!
• Division A – 6:40pm; Divisions B & C – 9:00pm; “Women’s Try Curling Clinic” 7 – 9pm (with wine?!)
• Next week: Bead Awards! Preliminary review of Logo submissions for vote in January.
• In the new year – We return to curling on Wednesday January 4th, 2023!

Laugh of the Week:

What’s the absolute best Christmas present?

• A broken drum — you can’t beat it!

Get to Know our WNL Teams:

Team Fendley

Janice: Worst experience is when I realized I needed to curl using the stick, it was a very difficult transition to make, but with the support of my amazing team I was able to conquer my apprehensions and now curl with confidence again. My best experience is not having to give up curling and hope to enjoy playing for many more years. 

Best memory as a team was making a double run back take out to take a 5! Worst memory is giving that 5 back in the next end. 

Our team is very easy going.

We like to laugh and talk when we’re playing. 

And we like to interact with our opponents too. We like to have a good time. 

Three of us having been playing together quite a few years now but Nancy is fairly new to our team. 

And she has fit in so easily with us, just like she was always on the team right from the beginning.

I consider myself very fortunate to curl with Nancy, Diane and Heather – wait for the new year when we will be sporting our matching curling sweaters!!

I am a person of few words when I have to write it!  Embellish as needed!!

Heather:  Janice, Diane and I have been playing together for a number of years and Nancy joined us part way through the season last year.  Janice spared on a team with Nancy in a different league and knew she would be a great fit for our team.  We will know she is staying when Janice finishes knitting her a team sweater.  

We all still laugh about our communication and must continue to work on it.  In one game all four of us were yelling back and forth with increasing volume and intensity…YES…NO…YES!…NO!…YES!!…NO!!…YES!!!…NO!!!!!…until the shot was finally made (no idea whether it was actually made but best to assume so now!).  We all burst out laughing realizing how ridiculous we sounded!!  

Janice, Diane and Nancy are a special group of women and I am so fortunate to curl with them each week.  Curling has introduced me to so many fantastic women!  

Nancy: As you have heard I am the newest member of the group.  It is tough to join a group of three that have been together for years.  However,  these three women were all welcoming and made me feel part of the team right away.  The best part of being part of the team is that we strive to be competitive while having fun.  I remember the yes - no - yes incident because I was the 'no' part.  lol.  I look forward to keep playing on this great team.

If our team eats out we usually meet at The Oakville Pump and Patio.

Stuff that will help us Curl better:

Simple tips on increasing power generation for take outs.

By: Helen Garside

• Place hack foot a bit higher in the hack.
• As your hips move back, the slider foot moves back in a flat position, going a little further than when you throw a draw, there is a slight pause then you begin your forward movement with rock forward, foot forward placing it in behind the rock then pushing out of the hack. 
• Leg drive, which means how hard you push yourself out of the hack.

Power generation is not created from pushing the rock with your arm. Doing so will bring you off the line of delivery and creates an unbalance delivery. Two factors that will not help you make your shot. 

Recipes Around The Rings:

Christmas Tree Spinach Dip Breadsticks

These Christmas tree breadsticks are the perfect party appetizer for the holidays! They're filled with spinach dip and topped with garlic butter.

Prep Time30 mins

Servings: 20

From: https://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/christmas-tree-spinach-dip-breadsticks.html

Ingredients

• 12 oz Frozen chopped spinach thawed and squeezed dry
• 6 oz cream cheese softened
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 cup grated cheddar OR mozzarella cheese
• 1 tube refrigerated thin crust pizza crust
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a bowl, beat together the spinach and cream cheese.
3. Add garlic, salt, onion powder, chili powder, pepper, and Italian seasoning and beat to combine.
4. Add parmesan cheese and 1/2 of the cheddar or mozzarella cheese and beat to combine. (The other half of the cheddar or mozzarella cheese will be sprinkled over the filling when you shape the Christmas tree.)
5. Shape into Christmas tree as directed in the post.
6. Bake for about 22 minutes until quite golden brown on top and cooked through on the bottom.
7. Melt butter and stir in garlic salt and seasoning, then brush over breadsticks.

Serve warm.

WNL Logo:

Last 2 weeks to submit your creations.

Here is another one of the submissions:

Deadline – Dec 21^st.

We will vote at our Pot Luck in January!

Special Pin Competition:

Remember your “special pins” – Have fun with it – and remember – it has to be ON PURPOSE!!

Skips – please send your individual team members bead numbers to me by Monday Dec 19^th (see my email below).         

First session prizes to be awarded Dec 21^st!

The “darning pin” is  on the bulletin board in an orange envelope marked Ribbon pin!  Please ensure you return it promptly for others to use if needed.

Got something you want in the newsletter? Maybe a tip for us?  please send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for our next edition of WNL².  I need stuff! 

What’s happenin’ in the HOUSE:

Laugh of the Week:

If athletes get athlete’s foot; What do elves get?

***** Mistle – toes!! *****

Get to Know our WNL Teams:

We didn’t get another team’s picture last week – so here is my team:

Team Wasik

Who are the members of your team, and how long have you been curling?

Skip – Sheri Wasik I have been curling, more on than off, since grade 3 in Northern Manitoba. You’d think I would be better at this game by now! But with this team – It is an absolute BLAST!

Vice – Kelly Kluczkowski 20+ years – I curled in high school gym at the Dixie Curling Club. I then joined High Park CC 10+ years later, when I was a working adult and loved it. Fast forward to life in Oakville… Sheri and I joined together 19 yrs ago and are still going strong with the fantastic additions of Carolyn and Karen. We have only had 3 other teammates in those 19 yrs… I consider myself very lucky for this friendship and fun!

Second – Carolyn Wilson been curling on and off for about 20 yrs

Lead - Karen Paget 35’ish years – We started curling together when the team needed a 4th because Helen was kinda’ sorta’ almost moving to Edmonton. Then that didn’t happen and I sorta’ kinda’ just stayed!

Tell us a story about your team

Sheri – Because we never seem to get close to win a banner that would be proudly displayed on the walls of our curling club; I had one made. It states we win for the most Social team in WNL – and we think it still holds true today!!

Carolyn – I met Helen Garside at a birthday party in 2008 and was asked if I wanted to join their curling team, which consisted of Helen, Sheri and Kelly at the time…

I can’t really tell you which was my worst or best game, as there have been too many to remember. They are all great games with this team!!

Karen – Best Memory: Almost beating Nancy Smith last week (ties can be wins!).

Our cab ride home, when Carolyn chatted up the driver in his nice car!!

Our Best game hasn’t happened yet. Worst game – happened before I was on the team! Ha!

What would you like the other WNL members to know about your team?

Kelly - We are a team that is hard to explain because we sound interrelated! Karen is Sheri’s cousin and my sister-in-law. We love Carolyn like family. We are social (we have our own banner to prove it) and we love to have munchies after special games, actually any game. We love to curl, laugh and getting to know all the other teams. And… we all share one locker. LOL!

Carolyn – I think everyone already knows we go out to have a good time and hope we get a win in once and awhile… We have fun and enjoy out time together, with lots of support and encouragement!

Karen – We just like to play hard on the ice and have fun off the ice

What is your team's favourite food?

Sheri – For us – I just think it needs to include Wine and Wonderful people!

Kelly - We just love food and create reasons to celebrate Wednesdays. Sweet, savory, McCains chocolate cake, tiaras, veggies, hummus boards, you name it… just celebrate! Our favourite place to eat is together. We don’t discriminate.

Carolyn – We always enjoy the party mix after a game – LOL… and love to meet at Beertown. We also enjoy some Rose and Whiskey!! We are the team that loves snack night!

Karen – We love anything we can eat at the club – Must include Wine!!

Stuff that will help us Curl better:

Proper Alignment for Stabilizer Delivery by: Helen Garside

• The stabilizer was created to help curlers to easily get their bodies square to the broom. This works best when your set up is done correctly.
• Both arms are straight out in front with soft elbows when you set up for your delivery.
• Hands are parallel to each other. One holding the stabilizer in the middle of the handle, the other hand is holding the rock.
• The stabilizer and rock are pulled back at the same time and they move forward at the same time. The hands have to stay parallel through the entire delivery.
• If your stabilizer is under your arm when you let go of the rock then your shoulders weren’t square to the broom and your delivery line will be off, generally you will throw wide.
• Both your stabilizer and rock should be in front of you as you slide down the line of delivery.

Recipes Around The Rings:

Karen Paget makes this all the time! It’s delicious!!

YIELD: 8 SERVINGS

PREP TIME: 5 MINS

COOK TIME: 8 HRS

TOTAL TIME: 8 HRS 5 MINS

This Mississippi Pot Roast is the most delicious pot roast you will EVER eat! Made with just five simple ingredients and slow cooked in the crockpot, you are going to fall in love with this!

Ingredients

• 1 (3-4 pounds) chuck roast
• 1 packet ranch dressing mix
• 1 packet au jus gravy mix
• 1/4 cup butter
• 4-5 pepperoncini peppers

Instructions

1. Place roast in the slow cooker and sprinkle the top with the ranch dressing mix and the au jus mix. Place peppers on top of the mixes, and add the butter.
2. Cook over low heat for 8 hours. Serve with noodles, rice or mashed potatoes. Enjoy!

Notes

• Do not add any water or broth to this! It will make enough liquid as it cooks.
• This tastes delicious with potatoes and carrots! I like to add a few quartered russet potatoes and a large handful of baby carrots to the crockpot when there is about 1-2 hours left of cooking time.

CUISINE: AMERICAN

COURSE: MAIN

AUTHOR: ASHLYN EDWARDS | BELLE OF THE KITCHEN

WNL Logo:

Don’t forget the contest! Here is another one of the submissions:

Deadline – Dec 21st.

WNL Swag could be an option for us in the new year!

Special Pin Competition:

Remember your “special pins” – Have fun with it – and remember – it has to be ON PURPOSE!!

First session prizes to be awarded Dec 21st!

The “darning pin” is on the bulletin board in an orange envelope marked Ribbon pin! Please ensure you return it promptly for others to use if needed.

Got something you want in the newsletter? Maybe a tip for us? please send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for our next edition of WNL2. I need stuff! 😊

What’s happenin’ in the HOUSE:

1. Only 26 days until Christmas – Are you ready yet?  That also means, only 22 days until the logo vote happens and the first EVER bead winners are announced! 
2. We have had great feedback on our Social D Division – let’s hope the L2C (Learn to Curl) female participants want to join our league in January!
3. Our very own Janet Murphy is heading to the Senior Nationals in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia! Best of luck to Janet and her Team (Rizzo) Dec 4 thru to the 10th! 
4. The Sportsman’s Bonspiel, which supports sleeping children around the world (all proceeds go to the charity) is looking for sponsorship or raffle donations. The Bonspiel is Jan 27-29 2023. Contact Jim Wilson – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
   
   

Laugh of the Week:

A ham sandwich walks into the OCC and asks the bartender for a beer.

The bartender says “sorry we don’t serve food here”.  Ha!!

Get to Know our WNL Teams:

 Team “Sandwell”

Who are the members of your team, and how long have you been curling?

Carol Sandwell – Skip - I have been curling on and off since high school (can you say corn brooms?) Started in Grimsby, played recreationally for a bit at University of Waterloo and then Oakville.  I will try not to date myself or Mary St. James but I have known her since high school (although she has always been the better curler) and beat us already this year .

Rhonda Lawson – Vice - Curled at Oakville CC 9 years - played with Carol all 9 - joined the team when I moved to Oakville in 2013.  Years curled - 50, started playing "School Boys" in Highschool, then played at Humber Highlands - Etobicoke, Avonlea Scarborough, Leaside - Toronto and Annandale - Ajax of which only Leaside still remains. Played competitively for many years, then life got in the way.

Leslie Vivian – Second - I started curling in 2009. My first year I curled at the Royal Canadian Curling Club in Toronto. Then I joined Scarboro Golf & Curling Club. It was a fabulous experience as we had Roy Weigand, a world champion, as our Curling Club Manager and on-site curling pro. Any time you wanted some coaching, Roy was there to give you expert tips and fix whatever it was that needed fixing.  I joined OCC in 2016. I spared for several different teams in Wednesday Night Women's and then in 2017 joined Carol Sandwell's team and have happily curled with Carol, Rhonda and Fran ever since. 

Sally Tang – Lead - My first encounter with curling was with the Toronto Actuarial Club hosting a curling activity at Toronto Cricket Club in 2020 Feb right before covid lockdown. After the lockdown is done, I started curling in 2021 and hopped into Learn To Curl program here at Oakville. This is my second season! 

Tell us a story about your team

From Rhonda: So many games, can't remember most of them, most favourite bonspiel was the Muskoka International Bonspiel where you curled at Gravenhurst, Bracebridge and Huntsville over 3 days with home hosting.

From Carol: We are a new foursome as Sally joined our team and we have only had 3 games to date.  I used to play some competitive curling and best moments were winning against my sister and also Marilyn Bodogh (again dating myself ….)

From Leslee:  Win or lose, we always have a good time curling together. Fran is now off her hiking adventures all over the world and just spares for us occasionally, and we've welcomed Sally to our team. 

When I curled at Scarboro, I used to curl in competitive events and playdowns with my women's team. My partner Eric and I also played in the TCA Mixed a number of times.

My most favourite bonspiel was Bigley's in Bobcaygeon. My women's team went up and stayed the weekend. Great food (a lot of it made by the local curling club members), so much fun and even a fashion show. The prizes were all from Bigley's clothing and shoe store. I won a gorgeous burgundy leather handbag that I used for years.

From Sally: I guess the story is still under construction… stay tuned! 

What would you like the other WNL members to know about your team?

Our team has had some good games in Oakville over the years but really don’t like to start off in A division.  

What is your team's favourite food? 

We have not had any team social activities yet but in the past few years we have managed some golf games and dinners- no special places but always looking for restaurant recommendations.

Leslee: My favourite food ... it's a toss up between Mexican and Italian. Can't go wrong with either one.

Sally: Something to find out in the future! Personally I like hotpot and spicy food, BBQs are good too  

Special Pin Competition:

Remember your “special pins” – Have fun with it – and remember – it has to be ON PURPOSE!!

See Sheri if you need more beads or ribbons…

The “darning pin” is on the bulletin board in an orange envelope marked Ribbon pin!  Please ensure you return it promptly for others to use if needed.             

Stuff that will help us Curl better:

Communication!  There are some keys to a good team and the biggest one is communication. 

Times to communicate:

1. The person delivering the rock – tell the sweepers what you think the rock’s weight might be (according to how you felt you threw it)
2. Sweepers – have a quick tête-à-tête at the hog line – where do you think it might end up?
3. Skip – is the line good? Let them know
4. Sweepers – Tell the skip where you think the rock is going to be past the hog line….. If things change – yell it to your skip
5. Skip – Keep your sweepers in the loop – is it curling – do you need it straight? Do you want it to curl?
6. Be supportive, kind and have fun!

Recipes Around The Rings:

 Pear and blue cheese tart

• 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, just thawed
• 1 egg, lightly whisked
• 1 tbsp almond meal
• 2 small firm pears, thinly sliced lengthways
• 1 tbsp honey
• 50g blue cheese, crumbled
• 1/2 cup (25g) walnuts, toasted, chopped
• Honey, extra, to serve
• Baby rocket leaves, to serve

Step 1
Preheat oven to 200°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Place 1 pastry sheet on lined tray. Top with remaining pastry sheet. Lightly brush with egg and sprinkle with almond meal.

Step 2
Arrange the pear, overlapping slightly, over the pastry, leaving a 1cm border. Drizzle with honey. Bake for 20-25 mins or until the pear is just tender and pastry is golden brown and puffed.

Step 3
Sprinkle the tart with the blue cheese and walnut. Drizzle with the extra honey and sprinkle with rocket to serve.

WNL Logo:

Don’t forget the contest!  Here is one of the submissions:

Deadline – Dec 21^st.

WNL Swag could be an option for us in the new year!

Got something you want in the newsletter? Maybe a tip for us?  please send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for our next edition of WNL².  I need stuff! 

What’s happenin’ in the HOUSE:

1. How about a Pot Luck in January – instead of busy December? (Thank you to a couple of teams for suggesting this)
2. Wednesday Dec 14^th – wear a HAT Day! (no we are not in Elementary School – but it is fun!!)
3. Ask Evelyn and Sheri about the upcoming Social D Division aspect of our League!

Get ready to be welcoming and show our new players how awesome this game can be!

1. Please remember to keep your valuables either locked in your locker, or on the ice with you.  There was an incident last Saturday- nothing was taken but… Therefore, our locker room door lock will be fixed asap and the door will be closed during evening draws.

Laugh of the Week:

Q: How popular has curling become?

A: It’s sweeping the nation.

Get to Know our WNL Teams:

Team "Lambert"

Who are the members of your team, and how long have you been curling?

Linda Lambert - 2nd year curling

Andrea Seaver - 2nd year curling

Jovawne Ainslie - 2nd year curling

Jenny Archibald - 1st year and currently going into week 3 of L2C

Tell us a story about your team

Picture it...Oakville Curling Club...sheet 5, November 2022...

Linda is learning how to be a skip, Andrea and Jovawne are sweeping and giving Jenny (who had not thrown a rock since grade 13 gym) instructions on what to do (and how not to fall over). Jenny releases the rock and proceeds to gingerly step off the ice, caring more about getting off safely than where her rock was headed.  Andrea and Jovawne are sweeping the rock and watch in absolute amazement as it not only makes it all the way into the house but takes out two of the opposing team's rocks giving the team their first (and only) two points of the game!! It could NOT have been a more perfectly played stone. Linda, Andrea, and Jovawne immediately burst into hysterical laughter (this may, or may not have also caused an asthma coughing attack for one of the teammates, from said laughter). It was totally bead worthy - but before the beads were a thing.

What would you like the other WNL members to know about your team?

Our team might officially be "Lambert", but we are rotating positions - skip 'til you lose, so you never know who you are going to be buying a drink for! playing against!! As this is our second (first for Jenny) year curling, first as a team, we are GREEN!!! Warning...we will have a lot of questions and will take all the advice / direction(s) you can offer.  We want to give a big shout out to the first two teams we played - Marg Byrne et. al and Alison Symth et. al, thank you again for your words of wisdom and patience. It was truly appreciated. 

What is your team's favourite food? 

We all like different foods...

Linda - Greek

Andrea - Asian

Jovawne - Thai 

Jenny - Indian

We are all about the social aspect of curling!  

Looking forward to meeting and getting to know all of you and having fun this season. 

Good curling!!

Special Pin Competition:

Remember your “special pins” – Have fun with it – and remember – it has to be ON PURPOSE!!

            See Sheri if you need more beads or ribbons…

            If needed – There will be a good sized pin available to help you put the beads on your ribbon.  It will be on the bulletin board in an envelope marked Ribbon pin!  Please ensure you return it promptly for others to use if needed.

Stuff that will help us Curl better:

Speed of play:

After the score of the end has been determined - players should put the rocks away, not in order, while the leads find their first rock to get ready to throw.

Recipes Around The Rings:

Curling Stone Sandwich Cakes

INGREDIENTS

•  1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
•  1 cup granulated sugar
•  1 egg
•  1 teaspoon vanilla
•  1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
•  2/3 cups cocoa powder
•  1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
•  1/2 teaspoon salt
•  1 cup buttermilk
•  180 g red chocolate wafers melted
•  16 gummy rings cut in half to make semicircles

Mint Icing:

•  2/3 cups unsalted butter softened
•  2 1/2 cups icing sugar
•  1/4 cup whipping cream (35%)
•  1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
•  pinch salt

METHOD

In bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy; beat in egg and vanilla. Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt; stir into butter mixture, alternating with buttermilk, making 3 additions of flour mixture and 2 of buttermilk. Drop batter by 1 level tbsp, about 2 inches (5 cm) apart, onto parchment paper–lined rimless baking sheets. Bake on top and bottom racks in 350 F (180 C) oven, switching and rotating pans halfway through, until cookies spring back when lightly touched, about 12 minutes. Let cool on pans on racks.

Mint Icing: Meanwhile, in bowl, beat butter with icing sugar until combined; beat in cream, peppermint extract and salt until smooth. Using pastry bag fitted with plain tip, pipe scant 1 tbsp icing onto flat side of half of the cookies; sandwich with tops. Working with one cookie at a time, spoon scant 1 tsp of the coating chocolate onto top, smoothing to form1-1/2-inch (4 cm) circle. Attach gummy semicircle to top of cookie to resemble handle.

Make-ahead: Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 3 days. Serve at room temperature.

WNL Logo:

Don’t forget the contest – we already have submissions!

Deadline – Dec 21^st.

WNL Swag could be an option for us in the new year!

Got something you want in the newsletter? Maybe a tip for us?  please send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for our next edition of WNL²  

What’s happenin’ in the HOUSE:

1. Well, it is your Board Representative’s birthday today! Woo Hoo!  Let’s have cake!
2. We start the “special pin” competition (see below for more details)
3. Sheri will be taking pictures of teams – for our “Get to Know Our Teams” section!
4. Should we have a December Pot Luck?  Let us know your thoughts!

Laugh of the Week:

Why are curlers such great artists?

They all know how to draw!  Hahaha!

Special Pin Competition:

Get your “special pin” tonight – Sheri will be around to pass the packages out to teams.

Your goal:

Get lots of beads!  Everyone starts with one bead.

The first prizes will be given out Dec 21^st

To get beads you must do the following – On Purpose:

1. make the perfect guard – Blue Bead
2. make a double take out – Red Bead
3. draw to the button – Yellow Bead
4. draw up to and touch an opposing teams rock – Green Bead

Stuff that will help us Curl better:

With our brand spanking new ice - Ensure curling your curling equipment is clean to prevent debris from falling on the ice surface.

Recipes Around The Rings:

Cheese Curling Rocks

Ingredients

• 2 bricks cream cheese, room temperature (250g each)
• 2 cups grated old Canadian cheddar
• ½ bunch green onion, thinly sliced
• Juice of half a lemon
• 1 clove garlic, rasped
• 1 small chili, seeds removed, minced
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• Pinch of salt and pepper
• 1 tsp black pepper
• ½ cup black sesame seeds and 3 tbsp white sesame seeds, toasted and crushed
• 1 red bell pepper top with a curved stem
• 1 yellow bell pepper top with a curved stem
• Crackers and cut veggies of your choice to serve

Preparation: To a large mixing bowl add softened cream cheese, grated cheddar, green onion, lemon juice, garlic, chili, sesame oil and salt and pepper to taste and mix until fully combined. Chill in the fridge for 1 hour. Remove from fridge and form into 2 equal sized balls and flatten slightly, approx. 5 inches in diameter and 1 ½ inch in height. Transfer crushed sesame seeds to a large dinner plate along with 1 tsp black pepper and whisk and roll your ball to cover all sides. Top each with a bell pepper top. Place in the middle of a serving platter and surround with crackers and cut veggies of your choice, enjoy!

Servings: Makes 2 curling rocks, serves 8-10

WNL Logo:

Don’t forget the contest – we already have submissions!

Deadline – Dec 21^st.

Prize given in January at the UNVIELING!!

(Got something you want in the newsletter? Maybe a tip for us?  please send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for our next edition of WNL² )

*Special thanks to Gail McPherson for coming up with the squared idea!!

What is this?

You may be asking yourself – What is this newsletter? Why are we getting it?

Well, we thought keeping in touch and keeping you up to date with anything happening in our league would be great.

• Maybe just curling tips?
• Maybe some special events?
• Special announcements?

Joke of the week:

What’s a curlers favourite type of food?
(see bottom for answer)

Next week:

Nov 16th

Be on the lookout for your “special pin”

For a season long, friendly competition …

There may or may not be prizes!!

Logo Creation Contest

• Create a WNL logo for our new News Letter
• Deadline Dec 21st (our last game of 2022)
• Small prize guaranteed!

Feel free to contact me: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with submissions and ideas anytime!

Answer to Joke of the week:   Takeout!